The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-25
TuTIIE ONCE MORE.
WHY His Record should lie Oacially
Scrutinized by the Grand Army.

Why His Record Should lie Officially
Scrutinized by the Grand Army.
General John NJ. Tuttle, Command
er of the Iowa Department of the
Grand Army of the Republic, but g
few weeks ago electrified the country
with an attack upon the President Of
the United States. He accused the
COMMANDMENT Chief of the army and
navy of this Republic with woeful
lack of patriotism. He called down
wrath of the entire G. A. r organiza.
ton upon the President and declared
that no patriot like himself could. in
self-respect, permit that order to be re-
viewed by a President whom he
charged with lack of appreciation Of
the soldiers. The Republican press had
suddenly found an issue and the Presi-
dents letter declining to visit St Louis
which was couched in charitable and
forgiving terms was the occasion of a
remarkable display of sectional hate.
In their avidity to abuse the President
and their continued charges of treason
upon him, they found solid sentiment
among the people that did not en-
courage their shrieks of 'war" and
epithets against what they termed
"unhung rebels" Bat this man
Tuttle proved to be danger
Gus piece of fireworks with which
to illumine their last display of the
"bloody shirt" For week or two
Republicans devoted display heads
and double leads to futile. He was
a bigger man than Grant. He was the
idol of their heart and the boast of
their patriotism. But, alas, futile had
been heard of before. He had record.
Gradually as this record began to APP
pear in the independent newspapers,
the Republican papers put his name in
smaller type. They came down from
black four line plea to nonpareil, and
at last the tail of their comet was
feebly seen in pearl and brilliant until
the proof against him became so over
whelming that for the past two weeks
they have boycotted his name entirely.
This is ungrateful, unkind. detestable.
1t has been a long time since they have
struck such ''fnd' as Tuttle. Ills
splendor, though meteoric, was dash
ing and intrepid. He led charge of
frothing fire against the Administra-
ton. He made things red hot He
stirred up the camp followers and
opened the eyes of the bummers who
exist by preying upon the Treasury as
pension claim agents. But the
Republicans have been chilled in
their appreciation of futile. They
may banker after him as much
as they did, but they conceal
it if they do. Why do they not rush to
his defense and demand an investiga-
ton? Three serious charges have been
made against him. His successor in
the post of Commander of the Depart
ment of Natchez has accused him of
the theft of 4 landau, and plainly
charged and proved that he was guilty
of an immoral partnership with a
treasury agent for purposes of unlaw-
full speculation in cotton. His accuser
is an equally distinguished ex-officer
and a member of the Grand Army of
the Republic. The latest chapter in
Tuttle's record is transcript from
the records of the circuit court in Mad
ison, Ia, showing that Tuttle pleaded
the statute of limitations in a suit
brought against him in 1876, by firm
named Hickey & Co., who carried on
the hotel, restaurant and liquor
business in Natchez, Miss, in 1864,
when Tuttle was in command there.
He made them pay him $500
for a permission to do business
in Natchez. They sought to recover
from him on the ground of blackmail
in 1876. futile did not deny the
charge. but declared that the lapse of
time debarred any action in the case.
This is a fine record for the man who
got up such a mock sentiment that
gave the Republican papers spasm of
patriotism--a man who is shown to be
u thief, blackmailer, confiscator,
who pleads the statute of limitations
upon being charged with his numerous
crimes. 1t is the duty of the G. A. r.
of Iowa, as well as each individual
member of that organization in this
country, to demand an investigation
into the charges against Tuttle, which
are confirmed by official documents on
file at Washington. Let there be Il G.
A. R. court of inquiry in the case of
futile, and if possible, rid that organi-
cation from such characters that bring
upon it reproach and shame. His case
should be brought up under the head
of the .'good of the order" in every
post in the country. Albany (M. ~
ArguS.